Bile Cancer - Diagnosis, Treatment, and Information

What Is Bile Cancer?

Bile Cancer, more formally known as Cholangiocarcinoma or Bile Duct Cancer, is a cancer that starts in the bile duct and occurs mostly within people over the age of 50. Bile ducts are tube like structures that carry bile and are required for digesting food. Your body has many Bile Ducts. One half of the bile duct system situated in the liver and the other in the pancreas. Bile cancer is extremely rare and is one of the less common forms of cancer out there.

Symptoms of Bile Cancer

Like many other cancers, the problem is that the symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions that have similar conditions and because bile cancer is uncommon, it is easy to account the sympotoms for a different condition. But some of the symptoms include...

Abdominal Pain

Jaundice

Weight Loss

Itching

Fever

Diagnosing Bile Cancer

Bile Cancer is another one of those conditions that require you to get diagnosed by a professional and generally isn't something your family doctor is going to be able to do without sending blood tests to a lab. To get diagnosed for Bile Cancer you will need to get blood tests done and in extreme cases maybe even surgical exploration.

Treating Bile Cancer

Treatment of Bile Cancer is generally difficult due to the fact that it is normally in an advanced stage once symptoms actually become noticeable. When diagnosed with Bile Cancer, you're option is generally chemotherapy, although you have the options of trying clinical trials. Radiotherapy is also an option and depending on where the Bile Cancer is located and how much it has spread, you have the option of getting a transplant.

Living With Bile Cancer

Like any other cancer, living with Bile Cancer may be difficult. It may affect a lot of areas of your life during and if you beat the cancer, even after. Cancer may affect your finances, emotions, relationships, and all of the main areas of your life. The key is to make a conscious effort to remember that even though the cancer may feel like it's taking too much of a toll on you physically, you always need to stay in control mentally.

Conclusion

Bile Cancer is no joke and can easily sneak up on you. If you have any thoughts that you might have Bile Cancer, your best option would be to immediately go to a doctor and seek a medical opinion. Remember, if you do get diagnosed with cancer, your life is not over. A new battle has begun and you need to stay strong mentally so that it's a battle you win.